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Tackle Derek Sherrod and safety Sean Richardson continue to watch practice from the sidelines with no imminent end to their long layoffs.

Sherrod broke his leg in two places in December 2011 and hasn’t played or practiced since. When asked if Sherrod might be ready to practice next week, coach Mike McCarthy was non-commital.

“I don’t know about that,” said McCarthy. “Derek Sherrod is making progress. He’s very confident. The medical staff feels good about the way he’s coming. He’s really a product of his medical classification and that’s really the fact he hasn’t passed his physical where you can’t get into the contact, the loading - the final step that he needs to get ready to play offensive line and every offensive linemen who’s been hurt goes through this. It isn’t something new. That’s kind of where we are. We’re trying to get him comfortable where he’s shown the explosion and the ability to push through the rehab process because once you pass that physical you can’t turn back.”

Richardson, meanwhile, injured his neck late last season on the opening kickoff against the New York Giants, and his status remains in limbo.

“Actually, we talked about him this morning,” McCarthy said of Richardson. “The evaluation that just occurred with the information that was given to Dr. McKenzie, we feel we still need to wait. There’s still some healing that needs to take place.”